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BOOK OF ABSTRACTS THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF THE NORWEGIAN ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY Biodiversity and ecosystem services in a changing environment: Challenges for science and conservation Trondheim 13 - 15 mars 2013 -1- Key Note presentation The challenges of operationalising the ecosystem service paradigm Steve Albon* The james Hutton Institute) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Although there are uncertainties and gaps in our knowledge base, we have sufficient information to manage our ecosystems, and the flows of services from them, more sustainably, and good evidence of the benefits of doing so. Yet systematic integration of value evidence into decision-making is poor, as the supply of valuation evidence does not always match the demands of decision-makers. I will draw upon work undertaken in the UK National Ecosystem Assessment (2011) and its follow on work, as well as that of the Valuing Nature Network (www.valuing-nature.net). I will discuss issues dealing with complexity of socioecological systems, the sustainability of natural capital stocks underpinning the flow of ecosystem services, including, the role of biodiversity. I will conclude by considering, How do we integrate natural and social science information on values into governance and decision-making? -2- Key Note presentation Global Mountain Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Space and Time John B. Birks* (University of Bergen) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract I review global mountain plant biodiversity in geographical space, ecological space, and, briefly, in time. About 12.3% of Earth’s terrestrial surface (excluding Antarctica) qualifies as mountains, the most mountainous being Oceania, S America, and Asia. The most biodiverse mountain areas are in Asia and Africa. Species richness often shows a unimodal peak at mid altitudes. Of 33 mountain regions, 24 show a unimodal species peak, 19 of which coincide with a mid-altitude peak in precipitation. Of these 24 mid-altitude biodiversity peaks, 7 occur in the upper montane and 9 in the lower montane belt. The limited knowledge of mountain biodiversity in time comes from DNA phylogenies and palaeoecological studies in Europe and N America. Interpretation of recent changes in mountain diversity highlights the importance of fine-scale landscape heterogeneity. Mountain ecosystems include provision, regulatory, and cultural services. A fifth of the world’s population live in mountains and 66% of Earth’s freshwater comes from mountains. The most important ecosystem service is the “lowland–upland contract of society” where lowland productivity is required to support up-slope society and to maintain multiple functions. I review potential threats to mountain biodiversity and show that these are different in different mountain areas. One result of this synthesis is that the greatest threats (land-use changes, invasives, climate change) are in the montane belt just below the thermal tree-line rather than in alpine belts above the tree-line. I conclude with 12 major challenges if we are to understand mountain biodiversity, their services, and responses to future environmental changes. -3- Key Note presentation Predicting changes in species diversity in a fluctuating environment. Bernt-Erik Sæther* (CCB, NTNU) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Predicting the impact of various kinds of human activities on species numbers and abundances represents an enormous challenge to ecologists. This is difficult because reliable projections about the future, independent of whether one refers to genetic changes, trends in population sizes or in species numbers, require that density dependent processes as well as stochastic influences on the population dynamics are properly modelled and estimated. Because data rarely will be available for doing such analyses, it is an urgent need for identifying general principles that can provide a qualitatively understanding of the expected patterns in future dynamics based on some easily accessible characteristics of the system. Here I will present some patterns in the effects of environmental and demographic stochasticity on the dynamics at the genetical, population and community level, which have emerged from a combination of theoretical analyses and comparative studies of empirical data. I propose that these patterns provide a foundation for a new synthesis in which different sub-disciplines in ecology as well as other sub-disciplines are more integrated within a similar theoretical and conceptual than today. This will enable ecologists to develop better predictions about expected changes in species diversity, e.g. due to changes in climate or loss of critical habitat types. -4- Key Note presentation Does biodiversity have anything to do with ecosystem services? Signe Nybø* (NINA) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract No abstract. -5- Oral presentation Inferring the past, understanding the present: case studies from phylogeography Hans K. Stenøien* (NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Understanding how historical and contemporary processes shape species diversity is not only fundamental to evolutionary biology, but may also be important for efficient management of biodiversity. I will present a few case studies from phylogeographic studies of mosses, lichens, flowering plants and deer to illustrate how knowledge of historical past may be useful in conservation. -6- Oral presentation Interdependent effects of climate and land use change: a 30 year experimental study Nina Sletvold* (Uppsala University), Johan Dahlgren (Stockholm University) Dag-Inge Øien (NTNU Museum of Natural History) Asbjørn Moen (NTNU Museum of Natural History) Johan Ehrlén (Stockholm University) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Changes in climate and land use are expected to have large effects on the viability of populations worldwide. The effects of climate and land use change are also likely to be interdependent, and interact with local habitat conditions. Therefore, flexible management practices that adapt to the prevailing climate and local conditions are needed. We used 30 years of demographic data to estimate the simultaneous effects of management practices and among-year variation in four climatic variables on individual survival, growth and fecundity in one coastal and one inland population of the perennial orchid Dactylorhiza lapponica in Norway. Statistical models of how climate and management practice influenced individual vital rates were incorporated into matrix population models to quantify effects on population growth rate. Effects of climate differed between mown and control plots in both populations. In particular, population growth rate increased more strongly with summer temperature in mown plots than in control plots. Population growth rate declined with spring temperature in the inland population, and with precipitation in the coastal population, and the decline was stronger in control plots in both populations. These results support the notion that climatic factors which positively influence vital rates have stronger effects in mown plots where competition is reduced. The results also show that effects of management actions like mowing may strongly depend on climatic factors. This underscores the importance of considering interactions between climate and land use to reliably predict future population viability and to optimize conservation actions. -7- Oral presentation Changing environments causing time delays in population dynamics Erik Solbu* (Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, NTNU), Steinar Engen (Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, NTNU), Ola Håvard Diserud (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Changing environments can cause temporal variation in parameters describing population dynamics. To assess the viability of such populations, stationary models may not be satisfactory. We use a linear diffusion process, where parameters are deterministic functions of time, to study populations affected by e.g. habitat fragmentation. Contrary to stationary models, there is a difference between the expected population size and the carrying capacity. The difference depends on the magnitude of the change in expected population size and the mean return time to equilibrium, causing a time delay in the population dynamics. This gives a simple rule of thumb for viability analysis and we illustrate the idea with simulated and real data. -8- Oral presentation Demographic autocorrelation in a stage-structured population model Aline Magdalena Lee* (Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Steinar Engen (CBD, NTNU) and BerntErik Sæther (CBD, NTNU) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Life histories commonly involve correlations in individual demographic rates from one year to the next. For example, in many systems reproductive output is not independent among years. When reproduction is costly, offspring production at one time step can decrease an individual’s probability of reproducing at the next time step. Reproductive costs can also affect survival probabilities. Conversely, individual quality differences can generate positive correlations in individual reproductive rates between years. Such demographic autocorrelations can affect important population parameters such as the demographic variance, and thus population dynamics and genetics. However, traditional matrix population models do not have the capacity to deal with these correlations. I will present a matrix model that accounts for this demographic autocorrelation, and show how estimates of population dynamics could be affected when demographic autocorrelations are ignored. -9- Oral presentation Bayesian Networks: A framework to analyse the ecological capacity of ecosytem service provision Graciela M.Rusch* (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)), Carlos Pérez Carmona (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain) David N. Barton (Norwegian Insitute for Nature Research) Mayécor Diouf (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles, Senegal) and Cristina Armas (Instituto de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas, Almería, Spain) Dioumacor Fall (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles, Senegal). *e-mail : [email protected] Abstract The concept of ecosystem services (ES), i.e. the contributions of ecosystems to human wellbeing bridges ecological and economic values. The scientific development of the ecological dimension is essential for the overall theoretical progress in the field and for the implementation of the ES framework. Some tasks ahead are to identify the functions that sustain a particular ES, to search for indicators or proxies that can describe the capacity of the natural system to maintain these functions, and to assess how the management of natural systems affects this capacity. The field of functional ecology opens new avenues to explore the question of indicators of ecological function since the approaches aim to characterise organisms according to characteristics that are related to functions, such as those involved in carbon and nutrient acquisition in plants. We propose that in a similar way, the relationship between structural characteristics of organisms and/or organism groups and particular functions that support the provision of ES can be explored. Using a data set of savannah tree attributes, we illustrate the use of Bayesian networks (BNs) to establish the probability of a causal relationship between tree characteristics and the productivity of the understorey vegetation. In this way, we analyse the capacity of the silvopastoral system to produce forage as a function of the tree species and soil characteristics, taking into consideration within species variability and an estimation of the degree of uncertainly of the functional response. - 10 - Oral presentation Mapping and assessing the state of ecosystems and their services in Norway and Europe; from proxies and scattered data availability towards a coherent analytical framework Jiska van Dijk* (NINA), Graciela Rusch (NINA), Roel May (NINA) and Frank Hanssen * e-mail: [email protected] Abstract At different national levels mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services initiatives are currently undertaken. In synergy the EU DG-Environment (DG-Env) working group MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) works on a common methodological framework. The MAES work will contribute to the EU response to several Aichi targets, through restoring 15% of degraded ecosystems by 2020 thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and through integrating biodiversity values in accounting systems. This is also relevant to Norway regarding its obligations and commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The results of the mapping and assessment should support the maintenance and restoration of ecosystems and their services. For this work it is important that national priorities are identified and that the by MAES proposed common typologies for ecosystems and ecosystem services are used to allow for consistent aggregation across scales and comparison of results. In addition, it is important to assess data availability and methods for ecosystem mapping and assessment for Norway. Mapping and assessing the state of ecosystems and their services in Norway will be tightly aligned with the evolving research infrastructure (RI) initiatives at both European, Nordic and national levels (i.e. GBIF, The Norwegian and Swedish Biodiversity Information facilities, Lifewatch, EUBON, the Norwegian Marine Data Centre and the Digital information system for natural history collections- DINA) . At the EU level this data availability assessment is currently undertaken by DG-Env and the European Environmental Agency (EEA). The initial methodological work on biophysical mapping and assessment within the MAES work is expected to be delivered by 2014 and an update of the progress so far will be presented. In addition an outline of data availability and methods used in Norway will be presented as well as the challenges Norway has in this respect. Also future work to enable Norway to line up with a coherent analytical framework while securing data availability and minimizing proxy approaches will be discussed. - 11 - Oral presentation Renewable energy – consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services Roel May* (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)), Kjetil Bevanger (NINA), Jiska van Dijk (NINA), Zlatko Petrin (NINA) and Hege Brende (NINA) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The EU Renewables Directive dictates an increase of renewable energy by 20% by 2020. The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 indicates that conservation of biodiversity should be viewed in the context of both human use of nature and adaptation to climate change. Renewable energy is seen as an important measure to reduce the effects of climate change; however, further land-use and seascape development will impact nature to a certain degree on top of existing pressures. Environmental design may play a role to mitigate biodiversity impacts; illustrated here through examples from on-going R&D at the Centre for Environmental Design of Renewable Energy (CEDREN). Wind-power development is expected to expand considerably towards 2020. Norway also wishes to become Europe's renewable battery and green energy supplier, using its vast hydropower resources. The greatest bottleneck to further development of renewable energy, however, may be power transmission. The combined impact of several power plants, and associated power lines, on nature and our own livelihood requires thorough (strategic) environmental impact assessments and standardized monitoring approaches. It also requires a thorough pre-construction spatial siting selection to avoid the most conflict-ridden areas; with respect to ecology, technology, economics, aesthetics and existing land use. Although renewable energy is essential for society it is important to understand the species-, site- and season-specific ecological impacts. New approaches and technologies are essential to reduce environmental impacts and offer solutions (“eco-innovation”) for future renewable energy development. It is important to emphasize that at the end of the mitigation hierarchy there will always remain a net-impact which may be offset through compensation activities. Regardless of technological, socio-economic and environmental challenges, there should be a balance in how we use ecosystem services irrespective of short-term profitability: biodiversity and resources as natural capital for the future. - 12 - Oral presentation COAT - Climate- ecological Observatory for Arctic Tundra Audun Stien* (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre), Kari Anne Bråthen, Elisabeth Cooper, Dorothee Ehrich, Vera H. Hausner, John-André Henden, Rolf A. Ims, Ingrid Jensvoll, Siw Killengreen, Virve Ravolainen, Nigel G. Yoccoz (Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø), Martin Biuw, Per Fauchald, Jane U. Jepsen, Ingunn Tombre, Torkild Tveraa (Department of Arctic Ecology, Norwegian Institute of Nature Research), Eva Fuglei, Jack Kohler, Åshild Ø. Pedersen (Norwegian Polar Institute), Steve Coulson, Pernille B. Eidesen, Eike Müller (University Centre of Svalbard), Ole Einar Tveito (Norwegian Meteorological Institute) and Jesper Madsen (University of Aarhus) *e-post : [email protected] Abstract The arctic tundra is predicted to be more challenged by climate change than any other terrestrial biome. The rapid shift to new climate regimes is likely to give rise to new ecosystems with unknown properties, making science unable to accurately predict the associated outcomes and long-term consequences. This realization has led to several international calls for scientifically robust observation systems that enable real time detection, documentation and understanding of climate impacts on arctic tundra ecosystems. The COAT (Climate-ecological Observatory for Arctic Tundra) science plan is the Fram Centre response to these calls. COAT will be implemented at two sites representing the Norwegian sector of the tundra biome (Varanger peninsula and Svalbard). In addition, plans are made for “sister observatories” in arctic Russia. COAT is a system for long-term adaptive ecosystem monitoring based on food-web theory. Fundamental to COAT is (1) the formulation of conceptual climate impact prediction models for the food web and the use of these models to decide on the choice of state variables, monitoring targets, sampling designs and mathematical/statistical modeling approaches; (2) a focus on management and relevance for society, with formal involvement of stakeholders, policymakers and management authorities; (3) a monitoring plan for public perception and use of ecosystem services and nature; and (4) an adaptive design where climate impact models, monitoring design and methods are updated in response to new knowledge, technologies and societal priorities. The goal of COAT is to become the world’s most comprehensive and management relevant long-term research enterprise for arctic terrestrial ecosystems. - 13 - Oral presentation Is there more than climate warming causing the upward movements of high-alpine plants in Europe? John-Arvid Grytnes* (Universitetet i Bergen), Jutta Kapfer, Gerald Jurasinski, Hilary H. Birks, Hanne Henriksen, Kari Klanderud, Arvid Odland, Mikael Ohlsson, Gian-Retho Walther, Sonja Wipf, and H.J.B. Birks *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Species ranges have shifted northwards in latitude and upwards in altitude in recent decades. Climate, especially temperature, is usually considered to be the most important limiting factor for species ranges and recent shifts in species ranges have therefore been commonly explained as a response to recent climate warming. However, several alternative hypotheses have been proposed to explain these altitudinal shifts, including increased deposition of atmospheric nitrogen, changes in precipitation or moisture availability, and dispersal limitation. We amalgamated observed shifts in the upper range-limit of alpine plants on 115 European mountains from Svalbard in the north to Italy in the south and evaluated the hypotheses mentioned. On these 115 mountains nearly 70% of the species that showed detectable change in their upper range-limits between surveys had shifted their range-limits upwards, and the same species tend to move up on different mountains. When relating change in temperature to the proportion of species shifting upwards we find no indication that temperature increase causes the upward movement of species. Correspondingly, no more warmth-demanding species moves upwards than expected by randomness. A lower proportion of species migrated upwards on mountains that experienced the highest increase in summer precipitation. - 14 - Oral presentation Man and forest: the Himalayan hill farming system Inger Måren* (Department of Geography, University of Bergen) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Forests play a profound role in rural livelihoods in the developing world and the increasing demands on ecosystem services over the past 50 years have been fulfilled at the cost of diversity loss ecosystem and degradation. Generally, there is a supply of ecosystem functions and a demand of services. In Asia, particularly, there is high demand and high supply, and there are inadvertently trade-offs between services. In the Nepalese Himalayas we sat up a network of three paired sites inside and outside formally protected areas, in order to assess if and how legal regime affected woody species richness and ecosystem service delivery; e.g. firewood, fodder, timber, litter, and edible and medicinal plants. Woody species richness, carbon stocks, and forest structure/regeneration were analysed in 540 plots in temperate broad-leaved forests between 2000 and 2500 masl. Trends in land use practices connected to the forest ecosystem were documented by interviewing subsistence farmers. The six sites showed high species turnover, reflecting high regional differences in species composition. In the Langtang and Kathmandu regions woody species richness was higher in National Park forests than in the adjacent Government Managed Forests. In the Annapurna region this was not the case. In the Langtang region carbon stocks were almost twice as high inside the National Park than outside. Further, we discovered substantial differences in forest ‘health’ regardless of legal framework, where distance to nearest village was an important indicator. Our work shows that the demand for evidence-based natural resource management for sustaining ecosystem function and ecosystem service delivery is pressing in a global South perspective. - 15 - Oral presentation Early detection of invasive alien species – the usefulness of distribution modeling Inger Auestad* (Høgskulen i Sogn og Fjordane), Rune Halvorsen (NHM, UiO), Vegar Bakkestuen (NHM, UiO) and Lars Erisktad (NHM, UiO) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Invasive alien species (IAS) presently cause immense economical loss, and pose great threats to ecosystems and organisms worldwide. IAS may moreover constrain successful restoration of ecosystems. Efficient combat of IAS rests on targeted measures and early detection. The tendency of ornamental IAS to invade road verges makes these areas suitable for early detection and successful monitoring of such species. The generally low prevalence in early stages of invasion necessitates unequal probability sampling of IAS, in which high-risk areas are oversampled in comparison to low-risk areas. We present a method for predicting IAS risk levels based on distribution modeling (DM), exemplified by modeling the distribution of five ornamental species along road verges in Southern Norway. We combined nine environmental variables as predictors and presence-only data for model training in the widely used DM program Maxent. Evaluation by independent presence-absence data sampled in a nested design revealed that good – excellent models could be built. The study hence showed that DM provides a good basis for risk prediction and, accordingly, for monitoring design aimed on early detection of IAS. In addition to predicting species’ potential occurrence in space (demonstrated in this study), DM may predict potential occurrence in time. Moreover, DM may aid general identification of species – environment relationships. The approach is presently being improved through development of procedures for parsimonious building of distribution models. - 16 - Oral presentation Effects of supplementary feeding stations for moose (Alces alces) on field layer vegetation composition Karen Marie Mathisen*(Hedmark University College), Torgersen, S. B. and Skarpe, C. (HIHM) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Herbivore numbers have been increasing across Europe and North America in recent decades, with implications for whole ecosystems, including impacts on biodiversity. Moose populations in Scandinavia are no exception, leading to intense browsing of commercially important boreal forests. Supplementary winter feeding is a common management practice in areas with high densities of cervids. Supplementary winter feeding of moose leads to high concentrations of nutrient input from dung and urine and browsing locally around feeding stations, the impact declining with distance to feeding stations. This gradient has a strong effect on the vegetation around feeding stations. We investigated how moose browsing and nutrient input affects the field layer vegetation composition, cover and flowering in a gradient with increasing distance from feeding stations for moose. Non-browsed species that were nutrient-demanding and light-tolerant increased locally at feeding stations. Reproduction and cover of dwarf shrubs showed contrasting responses to a gradient in moose density, as cover increased and reproduction decreased close to feeding stations. Cover of herbs decreased, and cover of dwarf shrubs increased close to feeding stations. Our results indicate that supplementary feeding stations for moose create strong gradients locally (<100m of feeding stations) that affect plant community composition. These gradients differ from natural gradients in herbivore density by the high input of moose dung caused by supplementary feed. - 17 - Oral presentation Can the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) explain herbivory effects in a natural forest system? Stein Joar Hegland* (The Norwegian Red deer Centre) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Background: Herbivory is one of the most important biotic disturbance-types globally. In northern forest ecosystems the population densities of wild-ranging ungulates have reached historical heights and they are potentially a major determinant of plant diversity. Study design: We performed detailed sampling of the forest understorey vegetation at 12 Pinus-Vaccinium forest sites on the island Svanøy across a 10-year period. We combined a semi-experimental gradient approach with an experimental exclosure approach. In grazed sites we monitored the grazing frequency on the dominant plant species bilberry and developed a herbivory index. Research questions: We wanted to know whether the impact of red deer herbivory could be explained by the IDH, often used by managers as operational guideline. Model testing: We tested whether linear or quadratic models with herbivory intensity best could explain species richness (total and functional groups). Results from the experimental exclosure approach validated the gradient models. Results: Overall species richness increased with increasing herbivory intensity, but decreases slightly as herbivory becomes intense (a quadratic model). In general woody species groups respond negatively to increasing grazing intensity, whereas groups in field- and bottom layer of the forest respond positively to increasing grazing intensity. Conclusions: The IDH can partly explain the overall pattern of species richness as a function of red deer herbivory intensity. Red deer herbivory appears to be positive within natural limits. The impact is considerably different for tall-growing woody and low-growing nonwoody species groups and management decisions in relation to herbivore densities must take this into account. - 18 - Oral presentation Grazing buffers vegetation change in the mountains of Norway James Speed* (NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology), Gunnar Austrheim (NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology), Alison Hester (James Hutton Institute) and Atle Mysterud (CEES, University of Oslo) *e-mail : [email protected] Abstract Climate warming has been linked to elevational advance of plant distributions and an increase in species richness in mountain vegetation. However, grazing can also have substantial impacts on mountain vegetation, and alpine areas of Norway are currently utilised for livestock grazing. Here we report from a long-term and large-scale sheep grazing experiment in the mountains of southern Norway, where grazing was increased, decreased or maintained at previous levels. Plant community change was minimal where sheep density was maintained at previous levels. Where grazing ceased, there was a decrease in species richness at low elevations and an increase in species richness at higher elevations. This occurred in conjunction with an elevational advance of grassland plant community composition of 3 m over 8 years. Contrastingly, where sheep density was increased there was a decrease in species richness of the most selected meadow community, along with down-slope shift of 4 m in grassland community composition. Changes in alpine community composition linked to climate are likely to be relatively inconsequential in comparison to a dramatic increase in treeline elevation caused by reduction in grazer intensity: We observed recruitment of mountain birch far above the current treeline where sheep were removed. In comparison, recruitment of birch above the treeline was suppressed at even low densities of herbivores. This study shows how herbivore-vegetation interactions vary along an environmental gradient, and that grazing herbivores can buffer changes caused by other drivers in alpine vegetation. This has relevance for the management of biodiversity and ecosystem services. - 19 - Oral presentation Spatial distribution and habitat selection in willow ptarmigan - the importance of adult survival Mikkel Kvasnes* (Høgskolen i Hedmark, avdeling for anvendt økologi og landbruksfag), Erlend Nilsen (NINA), Hans Christian Pedersen (NINA) and Torstein Storaas (Høgskolen i Hedmark) *e-mail : [email protected] Abstract In heterogeneous landscapes individuals select among several habitat patches. The reward of these patches in terms of fitness is assumed to play an important role in habitat selection and thus distribution of individuals across landscapes. Individuals can use both environmental cues to directly assess habitat quality, or rely on social cues such as conspecific attraction as guide in the settlement decision. We used population data from willow ptarmigan covering 515 years in 42 survey areas within 5 spatially separated populations (mountain regions) in south-central Norway to; analyze spatial and temporal sources of variation in breeding density and recruitment, and to evaluate which habitat selection model that best describe the distribution across mountain landscapes. Variation in breeding density was primarily attributable to variation between survey areas and is probably caused by spatial heterogeneity in survival or habitat selection during settlement. In contrast, recruitment was more variable between years and did not vary consistently between areas when year effects were accounted for. A lack of relationship between density of the breeding population and recruitment supported an ideal free distribution (IFD), thus implying that within years in mountain regions, survey areas of varying breeding densities have approximately equal reproductive success. However, Taylor’s power law relationship between spatial variance and mean breeding density revealed stronger aggregation than expected under IFD. A general increase in density is proportionally greater in high density areas than low density areas. In the light of willow ptarmigan biology we discuss how this aggregation is probably caused by conspecific attraction during the settlement stage. - 20 - Oral presentation A mass-balanced pelagic ecosystem model with size-structured behaviourally adaptive zooplankton and fish Øyvind Fiksen* (University of Bergen), Marco Castellani (UiB) Rune Rosland (UiB) and Agurtzane Urtizberea (UiB) *e-mail : [email protected] Abstract One of the challenges in contemporary ecosystem theory and modelling is to integrate the classical biogeochemical cycling of energy and matter with evolutionary strategies and behavioural plasticity of organisms. We have developed a mass-balanced marine ecosystem model including nutrient dynamics, phytoplankton, size-structured zooplankton and fish, with quite mechanistic predator-prey interactions among zooplankton and between zooplankton and fish. The key novel feature of the model lies mainly in the behavioural flexibility in the zooplankton and fish, which all maximize fitness by habitat selection and diet preferences. The behavioural traits emerge from evolutionary principles and have a profound effect on ecosystem functioning and structure. In a stable environment the presence of fish has strong structuring effects over the size-structure of mesozooplankton, but little influence on phytoplankton because the total biomass of mesozooplankton remains relatively stable over the fish cycles. The inclusion of adaptive and flexible behaviour leads to emergent effects of multiple predators; the removal of intra-guild predation among zooplankton result in low fish abundance because zooplankton spend more time in deeper habitats. I will show present some properties of the model, and how it can be used to assess ecosystem consequences of eutrophication and fisheries. - 21 - Oral presentation Camera-traps, sampling design, and the recolonization of the arctic fox in northern Norway Sandra Hamel* (University of Tromsø), S.T. Killengreen (Uni. Tromsø), J.-A. Henden (Uni. Tromsø), N.G. Yoccoz (Uni. Tromsø) and R.A. Ims (Uni. Tromsø) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The development of camera-traps has provided an opportunity to study ecological relationships of species that are rare or difficult to observe, and the use of camera-traps has seen a major increase recently. Here, we first used an extensive camera-trap data set from a large-scale spatio-temporal study of a diverse assemblage of scavengers in subarctic/arctic tundra to determine sampling designs that minimize detection errors, and to evaluate the influence of sampling design on estimation of site occupancy. Our results showed that use of raw data from both time- and movement-triggered cameras can lead to large detection errors. Nevertheless, sampling design had negligible impacts on estimates and precision of parameters obtained from occupancy models, as long as the time interval between the pictures remained below 20 min and the sampling period included 20 to 30 problem-free days. We then used occupancy models to evaluate the relative importance of diverse factors affecting the recolonization of arctic foxes in northern Norway. Arctic foxes drastically declined in the early 19th and their lack of recovery has been hypothesized to result from increased interspecific competition with red foxes and/or changes in prey dynamics. With the help of an extensive red fox removal intervention, we showed that the probability of recolonization is affected by both the presence of red foxes and the abundance of lemmings. Nonetheless, our results clearly highlight the presence of red foxes as the factor most limiting arctic fox recolonization in this part of its distribution. - 22 - Poster abstract nr: 1 Spatial distribution of nests and breeding success of rough-legged buzzard in Malozemelskaya tundra Olga Kulikova* (Moscow State University) *e-mail : [email protected] Abstract Most of the ecological studies that concern predators in tundra zone, including the roughlegged buzzard, focus on their interactions with the populations of their main prey: lemmings and voles, well known for their cyclic population outbreaks. The question of finding patterns in spatial distribution of the nests and its possible influence on the breeding success is not covered very well. In our study we tried to link the breeding success of the pairs with the nest location within different densities of the buzzard on the experimental plot. The data was collected on a 100km2 plot on the North-Western Russian tundra (upstream of the Pechora River), from 2007 to 2010. We visited the nests several times during the nesting season and assumed breeding success according to the number of days that every chick had been alive in each nest (N=34,min=4,max=14). Snap-trapping of rodents in the spring and in the fall each season (~1800 trap-nights per season) allowed us to rank the years according the food availability for the rough-legged buzzard. As a result we can conclude that the nests tend to aggregate in the river valleys, and the aggregation is more distinct in the year with low rodent density. Regarding the position of the nests within the landscape, they can be clearly divided into two types: the ones placed in the vicinity of river valleys and others - on the watershed. The Wilcoxon test (t = –2,076; d.f. = 32; p = 0,046) shows that the breeding success in the valley nests is significantly higher, than in the ones on the watershed - 23 - Poster abstract nr: 2 Distribution of four grass native species in Silvopastoral landscapes in Nicaragua Julio Morales* (NINA), Graciela M. Rusch (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research NINA, Trondheim, Norway), Lars Söderström (Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU Trondheim, Norway), Lester Rocha (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua UNAN‐Managua, Managua, Nicaragua), Fernando Casanoves (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza CATIE, Turrialba, CostaRica) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Due to the management history, seminatural grasslands, the herbaceous component of the silvopastoral landscape in Central America, are composed by exotic and native species. There is a tendency in the region to replace these grasslands by exotic grasses with the aim to improve productivity, but results are of varying success and the introductions may result in the degradation of the vegetation cover. To enhance the knowledge about the native species, such as their distribution and habitat requirements is a first step to increase awareness about the value of native species for current and future uses. The aim of this study was to assess the association of four common native grass species with environmental factors at 2 spatial scales. Two hundred plots were observed across two regions in Nicaragua, the Center and the South Pacific. The correspondence among the distribution of the species and the environmental factors was analyzed with Principal Component Analysis and Spearman correlations. The most wide-spread species were P. notatum and P. virgatum, but the latter was locally little abundant. Locally, Paspalum notatum and Paspalum conjugatum are common, but Paspalum centrale was wide-spread but little abundant. At regional level, land use history and dynamics, and edaphic features appear to be the main factors driving the distribution of the species. Locally, soil and to lesser extent altitude, were important. Among the other factors evaluated, topographic situation affects the distribution of P. centrale and P. conjugatum - 24 - Poster abstract nr: 3 Biodiversity of traditionally used boreal hay lands: changes, dynamics and threats Dag-Inge Øien* (NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet), Asbjørn Moen (NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet), Anders Lyngstad (NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet), Nina Sletvold (Uppsala universitet) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Changes in land-use during the last century are considered one of the most serious threats to the biodiversity of the traditional agricultural landscape. For more than four decades succession in plant communities and populations dynamics of outlying hay fens and grasslands have been studied in permanent plots in two nature reserves in central Norway: Sølendet and Tågdalen. The main aim is to document the effects of management activities such as mowing, trampling, burning and cattle grazing. The long-term data also allows us to quantify the effects of climate change, and its interaction with management activities. In the permanent plots populations of more than 60 plant species are monitored. Demographic data from yearly censuses are analysed using autoregressive models, matrix population models and LTRE analysis. Our results show that regular mowing leads to a general reduction in woody plants. The proportion of herbs is reduced, whereas that of the graminoids is increased. The pleurocarpous, prostrate bryophytes are favoured, whereas acrocarpous and ‘hummockbuilding’ bryophytes are reduced. These changes are not due to an impoverishment of the soil, but due to the high degree of disturbance caused by regular mowing. Cost of reproduction, summer temperature and precipitation are important factors affecting the population dynamics of fen and grassland species. Management activities interact with these factors, and climate change will alter the effects of management on population growth rate and population viability. Four doctor theses, seven master theses and a large number of papers have been published from the long-term studies; see: http://www.ntnu.no/vitenskapsmuseet/kulturlandskapmidt-norge/. - 25 - Poster abstract nr: 4 Do saproxylic beetles display scale-specific responses to dead wood abundance, and can forest parameters from digital maps be used as a proxy for dead wood surveys? Rannveig Jacobsen* (Norwegian University of Life Sciences), Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson (Norwegian University of Life Sciences), Tone Birkemoe (Norwegian University of Life Sciences). *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Studies of the relation between species richness of saproxylic insects and dead wood volume have been inconsistent with regard to spatial scale, and multiscale studies have found that this relation can differ depending on scale. In this study, dead wood was surveyed at sample sites spread across two relatively large areas in southeast Norway. Mean dead wood volume per ha was calculated for the area surrounding insect sample sites within three different radii; 1 km, 2 km and 3 km. Beetles were sampled from fresh aspen logs. Dead wood volume in general was only significant to saproxylic beetle species richness for the 1 km radius. However, dead wood of specific categories such as early decay or aspen dead wood had significant positive correlations at the 2 km scale. No dead wood categories were significant at the 3 km scale. Dead wood surveys are labour-intensive, which often limits the scale of the survey. Parameters from wall-to-wall digital maps can easily be obtained for multiple and large scales. Parameters describing the forest surrounding the insect sample sites were extracted from digital maps for the areas within the three radii. The parameter describing area of forest with much deciduous wood was the strongest predictor for species richness of aspen associated saproxylic insects. It was also significantly correlated with field data of abundance of aspen dead wood. Significantly larger volumes of dead wood were registered in the field at survey sites within forests with higher volume of living trees according to the digital maps. Thus, forest volume has the potential to be used as a proxy for dead wood volume within similar landscapes and environments. - 26 - Poster abstract nr: 5 Positive effects on population growth of temporal variability in food resources Frederic Barraquand* (University of Tromsø), Nigel G. Yoccoz (University of Tromsø) *e-mail : [email protected] Abstract Temporal variability in vital rates reduces population growth or population size. However, when temporal variability affects a exogeneous variable such as food or climate, environmental variability can sometimes benefit population growth, thanks to averaging effects over convex functional forms. Taking the example of rodent-eating predators such as foxes and skuas, whose resource can have highly variable dynamics, we show that in both regulated and unregulated population models, resource variability can be beneficial to consumer populations. These results are constrasted to general theory considering directly variability in vital rates, and explained thanks to Jensen's inequality and its spinoffs. Special attention is paid to the emergence of convexity in logarithmic population growth rates - a topic that has been often neglected in the population dynamics literature. We summarize how our results could influence population dynamics and life-history theory, considering not only variability in food resources but also climatic drivers. - 27 - Poster abstract nr: 6 Spatial and temporal variation in hippoboscid parasitism by Ornithomyia lagopodis on house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and its effect on survival Helene Russell Vastveit* (NTNU), Håkon Holand (NTNU), Henrik Pärn (NTNU), Henrik Jensen (NTNU), Jarle Tufto (NTNU), Bernt Erik Sæther (NTNU), Thor Harald Ringsby (NTNU) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract We studied the effects of the louse fly (Ornithomya lagopus) in an insular metapopulation of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) consisting of four islands in the period 2004-2011 on the coast of Helgeland in northern Norway. The prevalence of the parasite during the summer and fall seasons varied substantially between years and islands in the archipelago as well as showing seasonality within years. In addition there were significant effects of louse fly load on fitness measured as juvenile recruitment probabilities. These results suggest that louse fly presence may have a significant influence on metapopulation dynamics. - 28 - Poster abstract nr: 7 Restoration – from seeds to vegetation Line Rosef* (Norwegian University of Life Science (UMB)), Dagmar Hagen (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)) and Knut Rydgren (Sogn og Fjordane University College (HiSF)) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Ecological restoration has been described as a scientific and applied counterpart to the loss of biodiversity from habitat destruction, and the need for comprehensive restoration is stated in the Aichi goals of the Convention on biological diversity. Restoration of human-caused disturbance of landscape has usually been solved by seeding of commercial grass species. Seeding of native seeds can be a more ecological sustainable solution. However, the ecological effect of seeding is unclear and it might cause negative impact on vegetation dynamics and biodiversity. As a part of the research project ‘ECONADA - ECOlogically sustainable implementation of the ‘NAture Diversity Act’ (Naturmangfoldloven) for restoration of disturbed landscapes in Norway’ (2010-2014), we will clarify the impact of ecological factors on seed establishment after various types of disturbances, the implications of sowing for long term vegetation development, and determine when sowing is appropriate for long term ecological restoration. We study the ecological possibilities and constraints of using native seeds in restoration by two main approaches: 1) Short-term establishment by studying data from two experimental sites, one established in 2011 at Hjerkinn (Dovrefjell) and one established in 2008 at Bitdalen (Rauland). 2) Long-term vegetation dynamics by studying effects of seeding on vegetation dynamics in 30-50 years old spoil heaps in Hemsedal, Hol and Aurland and 20 year old seeded road sides at Dovrefjell. By combining these results, we will elaborate the short- and long-term effects of seeding for ecological restoration of alpine areas. - 29 - Poster abstract nr: 8 Reaction of plant groups in a recovering tropical forest Amy Eycott* (University of Bergen), Esaete, J. *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Forests in densely populated developing countries are likely to be subjected to intensive use by people. The resilience of component species to disturbance therefore affects the sustainability of the forest resource. Mabira Forest in Uganda is a forest with a history of both management and unmanaged intensive use: a 300 km2 forest reserve about 50 km from the centre of Kampala, it consists of a mosaic of patches disturbed over different time periods. Broad plant functional groups present in Mabira respond to disturbance in different ways. We surveyed large trees, woody shrubs and saplings, ferns, and herbs, in stands that had either been relatively undisturbed since the 1950s, managed since the 1950s, or encroached by settlers in the 1980s. We compared the similarities between samples taken from the four plant groups: the datasets for each were analysed in parallel, then the arrangement of the samples in ordination space compared. The ordinations were not correlated with one another, indicating very different responses to disturbance or other environmental gradients. Given the different responses we then used constrained ordinations with backwards-selection modelling to find important environmental variables for each plant group. Trees, shrubs and saplings were influenced by time since last disturbance, ferns were influenced by distance from streams, ie microclimate, and non-woody angiosperms by leaf litter cover ie microhabitat. Herb and fern species richness were both higher in old-growth stands, whereas large tree species richness was higher in old secondary stands. Conservation of both timber and non-timber resources, as well as biodiversity as an intrinsic benefit, will therefore depend on the sensitivity of the relevant plant groups to specific aspects of disturbance impact. Holistic forest management plans should take these differences into account in order to maximise sustainability. - 30 - Poster abstract nr: 9 The Matrix: Influence of Disturbance and Fragmentation on Species Richness in Ugandan Forests Amy Eycott* (University of Bergen), Akite, P. Baranga, D., Bulafu, C., Nordtveit, E., Telford, R.J., Vandvik, V. *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Millennia of human activity in the fertile region around Lake Victoria have fragmented and degraded the once-extensive moist broadleaf forest. Despite legal protection by gazetting a network of forest reserves, pressure on these forests continues, both from illegal timber and charcoal production and by clearing forests to allow subsistence farming, sugar cane and oil palm plantations. The rate of clearance is accelerating rather than slowing. The Matrix project is a collaboration between Bergen University and Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda that draws on the existing biodiversity data from the region. We have used resampling and new studies to assess the impact of forest fragmentation on diverse species groups: Lepidoptera, birds, monkeys, bats, trees and ferns. The project also includes a legal component looking at the reasons for forest clearance and the impact of legal frameworks for ownership. Ugandan forest biodiversity is depleted by habitat disturbance, both past and ongoing (evidence from plants and lepidoptera), habitat fragmentation (evidence from trees and lepidoptera), and matrix use intensity (evidence from bats and birds). Disturbed and fragmented forests are dominated by forest generalists and edge species, with depletion of forest specialists continuing long after the fragmentation or logging disturbance has ceased. It is not clear how much this is due to matrix intensification and how much to paying off extinction debt. However, even quite small fragments can contain species of conservation importance - we recorded ten red-listed tree species in>10ha fragments around Kampala, in an urban matrix. Reserve forests fare better than privately-owned forests, and private forests with secure ownership are more likely to remain uncleared than those where the ownership is not formalised. Therefore, while effective protection of reserve forests remains a priority and a challenge, smaller fragments can play a role in species conservation if the owner feels secure in retaining the value of the forests. - 31 - Poster abstract nr: 10 Do red deer enhance the plant species heterogeneity of boreal forests? Marte Synnøve Lilleeng* (Høyskolen i Sogn og Fjordane & Norwegian University of Life Sciences), Stein Joar Hegland (Norwegian Red deer centre), Knut Rydgren (Sogn & Fjordane University College), Stein R. Moe (Norwegian University of Life Sciences) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Heterogeneity in plant communities can be influenced by environmental factors and large herbivores. How large herbivores contribute to this heterogeneity is, however, debated. The literature suggests that large herbivores act as ecosystem engineers by e.g. trampling and selective feeding, and that effect of large herbivores depend on ecosystem productivity. Northern populations of red deer (Cervus elaphus) reach unprecedented levels. The influence of red deer on the plant species heterogeneity is poorly understood, especially in boreal ecosystems. Therefore, we examined red deer as a potential driver of plant species heterogeneity in a boreal forest by a long-term grazing experiment (10 years). We found that red deer grazing mainly affected the young three layer. Tree species increased in abundance and richness by excluding herbivores. Grazing did not affect richness and abundance in the field layer. Mosses showed a reduction in abundance when large herbivores were excluded. We found that alpha diversity decreased over the study period. This change was, however, slower and less severe in grazed plots than in ungrazed plots. Grazing did not affect beta diversity and evenness, but evenness showed an overall reduction during the study period. In line with previous predictions for relatively resource poor systems, our results show that red deer does not act as a driver for heterogeneity in the plant species community in boreal forests. Surprisingly, red deer presence appeared to slow down a long-term reduction in plant species diversity. - 32 - Poster abstract nr: 11 Lemming and vole population dynamics affect seedling recruitment in alpine habitats Kristin Odden Nystuen* (NINA), Marianne Evju (NINA), Graciela M. Rusch (NINA), Bente Jessen Graae (NTNU), Nina E. Eide (NINA) *e-mail : [email protected] Abstract Lemmings and voles with their cyclic population dynamics are important herbivores in arcticalpine areas at northern latitudes, with major effects on vegetation composition, biomass and diversity. In this study we investigate the effect of lemmings and voles on seedling emergence in two alpine habitats, snow-bed and sheltered heath, in the low-alpine zone of two mountain regions in Norway. Natural seedling emergence was recorded in a rodent peak year and in the following low-density year in both regions. We found seedling recruitment to be positively correlated with disturbance from lemmings and voles in both years. However, more seedlings emerged in the low-density year after the peak, when no direct disturbance from rodents was exerted. As expected did the snow-beds have higher seedling recruitment than the heaths. Furthermore was the seedling emergence positively affected by bare ground and litter cover in the peak year, while in the low density year there was a negative effect of lichen cover. Our results suggest that microsite limitation in both snow-bed and sheltered heath is common, and that the cyclic oscillations of lemmings and voles have an important role in plant recruitment dynamics in these communities. - 33 - Poster abstract nr: 12 The present and possible future alpine vegetation along a coast – inland gradient in Central Norway Sølvi When* (Bioforsk Midt-Norge), Jarle I. Holten (Terrestrial Ecology Research), Sverre Lundemo (Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC), Uppsala University) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Alpine vegetation shifts along gradients of topography (snowbed, leeside and ridge), height above sea level (bioclimatic alpine zones) and oceanicity (bioclimatic sections). Changes in mountaintop-vegetation due to recent climate change are being observed throughout the world, however, the trends are not consistent. The main effects of climate change in alpine vegetation will be due to changes in stability and duration of snow cover, length of growing season and precipitation. Therefore, to be able to predict possible shifts due to climate change in a given region, vegetation will have to be investigated along all these gradients. The overriding objective here is to present a project in which permanent plots have been established at four mountains along a coast-inland transect in Central Norway. Both species richness and species turnover varied along the gradients of the bioclimatic sections, topography and bioclimatic alpine zones. During the last decades climatic variables such as snow water equivalent and growing degree days, have changed along this coast-inland gradient, but the size and direction of change vary between localities. Since present day vegetation differ, it is reasonable to believe that plant communities in these mountains will respond differently and thus, general scenarios of future vegetation across the region will not be possible to construct. The aim of this project is therefore to obtain knowledge on the spatial and temporal variation in vegetation composition, including a number of abiotic factors as explanatory variables. - 34 - Poster abstract nr: 13 Potential effects of sheep grazing on ecosystem services and biodiversity Sølvi: Wehn* (Bioforsk Midt-Norge), Knut Anders Hovstad (Bioforsk) Line Johansen (Bioforsk) *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The rural landscape in Norway is undergoing large changes due to changes in livestock grazing. The main changes are establishment of shrub and trees in earlier open land. This has important consequences for provision of ecosystem services and biodiversity, and threatens red-listed habitat-types like semi-natural grassland, coastal heath and boreal heath. In numbers and off-take of herbage, sheep is by far the most important grazing livestock in Norway and accounts for two-thirds of total outfield resources extracted by livestock. The grazing resources available in Norwegian outfields can, however, sustain twice as much livestock as today. The Norwegian government aim to maintain the present level of self-sufficiency and suggest increased outfield grazing as a contribution to reach this goal. Increased outfield grazing will thus both sustain biodiversity and enhance benefits for users, which are goals defined in the Convention on biological diversity. The overall aim of this interdisciplinary project is to get knowledge about biological and sosioeconomical potentials and restrictions for various sheep-farm management systems in Norway. We will present preliminary results from one of the work-packages where the aim is to study the effect of sheep grazing on ecosystem services and biodiversity. The project includes areas both grazed and ungrazed by sheep in a quasi-experimental design. Plant species, encroachment, landscape structure and other environmental factors are registered in order to quantify the effect of sheep grazing. In 2012 the study was located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane and in 2013 the study will be replicated in Mid-Norway. - 35 - Poster abstract nr: 14 The spatial scaling of moose browsing Ivar Herfindal* (CCB, NTNU), Hilde Karine Wam, Unni Støbet Lande, Jean-Pierre Tremblay, Allison Hester *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Forests provide ecosystem services that are of important for human, but the interests of different benefits from forests often conflict. In Scandinavia, high abundance of moose is an important economic and food resource, but moose browsing often limits regeneration of clear cuts. By altering the abundance of alternative high-quality browse, forest owners may reduce forest damages by a spatial redistribution of moose, or due to dietary changes at the foraging patch. However, the effect of this may depend on the spatial scale of the forage distribution. We used an extensive dataset on moose winter browsing from south-eastern Norway to assess the extent of moose browse of pine in relation to availability of alternative browse at different spatial scales: within a foraging patch, forest stand, forest property, and municipality. The latter three represent the spatial scales of forest management. Overall, moose browsed pine as expected based on its availability. In contrast, several deciduous species were highly preferred, whereas Norway spruce never was browsed. There was a negative relationship between pine abundance and proportion of trees with damage at all spatial scales. High availability of preferred browse increased pine browsing, but within the forage patch the combination of a high abundance of both pine and alternative preferred forage reduced the probability that a pine tree was browsed. The results suggest that on a local scale, increasing alternative browse may decrease pine browsing, but at larger spatial scales increased alternative forage may even increase pine browse by moose. - 36 - Poster abstract nr: 15 Matrilineal diversity in Serengeti elephants: invasion, hybridization and isolation Frode Fossøy*1, Håvard Rosenlund1, Abul Hasnat Mohammad Raihan Sarker1,2, Lisa Furu Baardsen1, Heidi Gunilla Tingvold1, Craig Ryan Jackson1, Robert Dominikus Fyumagwa3 & Eivin Røskaft1 ¹ Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway 2 Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh 3 Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, P.O.Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Conservation areas are becoming increasingly important as safe harbours for natural wildlife. However, corridors connecting the different conservation areas are often missing, creating isolated islands of wildlife without any possibility of migration and gene flow among them. The genetic structure and diversity within each conservation area therefore becomes essential for the future survival of these populations. A growing concern is now being raised by the global public as the “Serengeti Highway”, a road planned to link Tanzania’s north-western coast to Lake Victoria with the larger cities further south, is under construction. The road will transverse ca. 50 km of Serengeti, running east-west parallel with Tanzania’s border to Kenya, and potentially act as a wildlife barrier between Serengeti and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Here, we analyse mitochondrial differentiation and genetic diversity of African Savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) within Serengeti National Park, northern Tanzania, and relate our findings to regional samples across Africa. We found no evidence of genetic structure within the national park. The Serengeti elephants showed a wide range of mitochondrial haplotypes as compared to regional samples, but 80 % of individuals originated from one single dominating haplotype, apparently being introgressed from Forest elephants (L. cyclotis). The other haplotypes thus had very low frequencies leaving them vulnerable to local extinction within the park. As part of an ongoing IPBES sponsored project, biodiversity surveys within Serengeti National Park and particularly along the planned road will be continued. - 37 - List of participants Name Institution Per Arild Steve Anne Guri anne lene Iulie Inger Ruth Jenny Gunnar Aarrestad Albon Aase aase Aslaksen Auestad Auran Austrheim Frederic Bolette Tone H. John B. Nora Kari Anne Linda Barraquand Bele Birkemoe Birks Bjørnlid Bråthen Dalen Maja Ola H. Kari Steinar Dinéh Sørheim Diserud Ellingsen Engen Marianne Amy Øyvind Anders G. Kåre Elisabet Frode Tijana Kristin E. Bente John-Arvid Anette Thomas Dagmar Sandra Liv Norunn Brage B. Kwaslema Turid Ditte Evju Eycott Fiksen Finstad Flatlandsmo Forsgren Fossøy Gajic Gangås Graae Grytnes Gundersen Haaland Hagen Hamel Hamre Hansen Hariohay Helle Hendrichsen NINA James Hutton UK NTNU INA, UMB, Ås Statistisk sentralbyrå Høgskulen i Sogn og Fjordane NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, NTNU University of Tromsø Bioforsk INA, UMB University of Bergen NTNU University of Tromsø Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management NTNU NINA NINA CBD, Dept. og Mathematical Sciences, NTNU NINA University of Bergen University of Bergen NINA NINA IBI, NTNU NTNU Hedmark University College NTNU Universitetet i Bergen University of Bergen NTNU NINA University of Tromsø Høgskulen i Sogn og Fjordane NTNU NTNU NTNU NINA - 38 - Name Institution Ivar John E Herfindal Hermansen Jarle Inge Knut Anders Oddmund Åshild Rannveig Holten Hovstad Huseby Idsø Jacobsen Line Stein Rune Finn Kari Anders Johansen Karlsen Katerås Klanderud Klemetsen Olga Mikkel Kulikova Kvasnes Aline M. Lee Marte Synnøve Sverre Anders Eiliv Flora Ingrid E. Karen M. Roel Jutta Kristiane Asbjørn Siri Julio Inger Lilleeng Erlend B. Liv S. Cecilie Signe Kristin Endre G. Mirja Øystein Nilsen Nilsen Notø Nybø Odden Nystuen Ofstad Olsen Opedal Lundemo Lyngstad Lægreid Manyama Mathisen Mathisen May Meiforth Midtaune Moen Monkan Morales Måren Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU NTNU Industrial Economics and Technology Managment Terrestrial Ecology Research Bioforsk NTNU Universitetet i Bergen, Biologi Norwegian University for Life Sciences (UMB) Bioforsk Northern Research Institute Tromsø Norwegian Ministry of the Environment Universitetet for miljø og biovitenskap Univ. Tromsø, Dept. Arctic and Marine Biology Moscow State Unoversity Høgskolen i Hedmark avdeling for anvendt økologi og landbruksfag Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Sogn og Fjordane University college AND Norwegian University of life sciences Uppsala university NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet Universitet i Tromsø NTNU NINA Hedmark University College NINA Trondheim kommune, Miljøenheten NTNU NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NTNU NINA Department of Geography, University of Bergen NINA Statens naturoppsyn UMB NINA HiNT/NTNU NTNU NTNU, biologi NTNU - 39 - Name Kristian Ingeborg Bård Åsa Hans Chr. Tommy Adrian Irja Ida Astrid Thor Harald Grethe Line Gunilla Graciela M. Mirjana Kayero I. Peter J. Marcel Knut Olav Sigrid Nina Erik Linan James Hans K. Audun Bård G Richard Line Anne Bernt-Erik Ørjan Marie Jiska Vigdis Helene Vebjørn Institution Overskaug Palm Helland Pedersen Pedersen DKNVS NINA NINA Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management Pedersen NINA Prestø NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology Rasmussen INA Ratikainen Department of Biology, NTNU Raunsgard NTNU Ringsby Centre of Biodiversity Dynamics, Institutt for Biologi, NTNU Robertsen NINA Rosef University of Life Science (UMB) Rosenqvist NTNU Rusch NINA Sadojevic NTNU Sanda University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Schei FNI Schrijvers-Gonlag Høgskolen i Hedmark, campus Evenstad Simensen Direktoratet for naturforvaltning Skarpaas NINA Skrivervik Bruvoll UIB Sletvold Uppsala University Solbu NTNU Song NTNU Speed NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology Stenøien NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology Stien NINA Stokke NTNU Strimbeck Inst. for biologi NTNU Sundt-Hansen NINA Sverdrup-Thygeson The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Dep. of Ecology and Natural Resource Management Sæther NTNU Totland UMB/INA Uhlen Maurset vanDijk NINA Vandvik Universitetet i Bergen Vastveit NTNU Veiberg NINA - 40 - Name Liv Guri Ingrid María del Mar Nina Kristin Sølvi Sandra Dag-Inge Jens Institution Velle Verne Villar de Pablo Vik Wangen Wehn Öberg Øien Åström Bioforsk NTNU DN NTNU Bioforsk NINA NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet NINA - 41 -